Costa Rica La Pastora

There are two different coffees branded as La Pastora. First of all, it is an estate with a very high reputation. But it is also the name of a mill which processes coffee for surrounding co-ops, also with a generally high reputation (but perhaps less consistent from lot to lot given the different farmer groups involved). Both are from the Tarrazu region, so you can't go wrong either way.

Anyway, this one is from the La Pastora Estate which we are working closely with this year. In addition to this main washed process harvest, we have four microlots coming from them this summer (two honeys, a natural, and an African Washed method).

This is best at City or Full City. I prefer it at City where you get more of a milk chocolate creaminess. At Full City you get more of a traditional coffee. Either way it is smooth, clean, and a very nice mug of coffee. There's no sourness or unpleasantness. This is not a Costa Rican with strong floral and citrus brightness. Instead, it is smooth, clean, creamy, slightly nutty, and milk chocolate. It arrived in the US in May 2016.